Two For The Price Of One
The WSJ is reporting that Chuck Hagel is likely joining Sen. Obama on his trip to Iraq. For those of us who didn’t see anything worthing in Sen. Hagel and who are thankful that he’s retiring, this presents a two-for-one opportunity.
A vocal critic of both the Iraq War and the Bush administration, Hagel mulled a run for the White House last year, but opted out of the race. He announced he was retiring from the U.S. Senate in Sept. 2007.
In a Tuesday interview with MSNBC, senior Obama campaign adviser David Axelrod also offered kind words for the Nebraska senator. “Sen. Hagel, I think, has been very courageous in speaking out on this issue of Iraq and the misguided policies that we’ve had from the beginning.” Axelrod declined to comment when asked then if Hagel would join Obama on the Iraq visit.
If Hagel joins Obama to Iraq, it’ll mean that two arrogant senators will have to admit that McCain supported the right strategy, not just one. When they visit with Petraeus, Odierno and Crocker, they’ll have to admit that things are much different than what they’ve been whining about the past 2 years. They’ll have to admit that progress is being made on the political front and the military front. They’ll have to admit that reconciliation is happening. They’ll even have to admit that the Iraqi military is stepping up and that they’re getting more proficient.
Republicans have sought to make an issue of Obama’s scarcity of visits to Iraq a campaign issue—the Illinois senator has not visited Iraq since Jan. 2006. The Republican National Committee’s Web site features a clock counting down the days—915 current—since his last visit. Sen. McCain, in contrast, has made eight trips since the war began in 2003.
It’s always interesting to see how the Agenda Media characterize things. Republicans haven’t sought to make Obama’s scarcity of visits the issue. Rather, they’ve tried highlighting the fact that he has the same opinion, the same policy, now as he had 2 years ago. Sen. Obama and Sen. Hagel would be wise to learn what John Meynard Keynes said about change:
When asked why he changed his position on an issue, John Maynard Keynes said: “When the facts change, I change my mind. What do you do, sir?”
It’s obvious that neither senator wants to admit that they were wrong, that neither man wants to admit that John McCain was right all along.
Hagel’s potential bipartisan alliance with Obama would be an interesting contrast to the relationship shared by McCain and 2004 Democratic Vice Presidential candidate Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, an Independent who caucuses with Democrats.
The comparison between Lieberman and Hagel wouldn’t flatter Hagel. Hagel’s a lightweight who let his BDS affliction color his judgment. I haven’t seen proof that he’s ever liked President Bush. I’ve seen proof that he hasn’t liked President Bush. I’ve also seen proof that Sen. Hagel thinks alot more highly of himself than his meagher Senate record affords him.
The thought of seeing Sens. Hagel and Obama admitting that McCain was right and that they’re wrong will be delightful. They won’t admit that they’re wrong, of course. They’ll just admit that they’re pleased with the briefings that they were given. Thinking people will know that that’s code for “I was wrong.” That’s all that matters.
Technorati Tags: Iraq, Obama, Chuck Hagel, Surge, David Petraeus, John McCain, Election 2008
Cross-posted at LetFreedomRingBlog
July 13th, 2008 at 10:03 am
revisionist history class must be in session again at CA Cons. Did Mccain not support Bush’s war full throttle up until the day he decided to run away form him ?? there are dozens of quotes where McBush praises the Bush policies in Iraq. even as recent as 2007. do you really think an informed electorate is going to fall for that when all we have to do is produce the quote (with video of course) to easily debunk that BS??
here are just a few
“But I believe, Katie, that the Iraqi people will greet us as liberators.” [NBC, 3/20/03]
“It’s clear that the end is very much in sight.” [ABC, 4/9/03]
“There’s not a history of clashes that are violent between Sunnis and Shiahs. So I think they can probably get along.” [MSNBC, 4/23/03]
“This is a mission accomplished. They know how much influence Saddam Hussein had on the Iraqi people, how much more difficult it made to get their cooperation.” [This Week, ABC, 12/14/03]
“I’m confident we’re on the right course.” [ABC News, 3/7/04]
“I think the initial phases of it were so spectacularly successful that it took us all by surprise.” [CBS, 10/31/04]
“I do think that progress is being made in a lot of Iraq. Overall, I think a year from now, we will have made a fair amount of progress if we stay the course. If I thought we weren’t making progress, I’d be despondent.” [The Hill, 12/8/05]
July 13th, 2008 at 5:57 pm
A couple more from the steadfast leader, John McBush, who was right all along. LOL LOL LOL.
“I think that Blix’s report will be fairly definitive. But Mr. Blix has made a lot of reports over the years, and I think the judgment made by the United States of America will — and the president of the United States — will prevail here.” [NBC, 2/12/03]
“I believe as strongly today as ever, the mission [in Iraq] was necessary, achievable and noble. For his determination to undertake it, and for his unflagging resolve to see it through to a just end, President Bush deserves not only our support, but our admiration.” [GOP Convention, 8/30/04]
“The fact is that I have agreed with President Bush far more than I have disagreed. And on the transcendent issues, the most important issues of our day, I’ve been totally in agreement and support of President Bush.” [Meet the Press, 6/19/05]
MR. GREGORY: Do you, do you have confidence in the president and his national security team to lead the war at this stage?
SEN. McCAIN: I do. I do. I have confidence in the president and I believe that he is well aware of the severity of the situation. [Meet the Press, 8/20/06]
“I’m sticking with the president in this respect [on Iraq]. This is our last chance. The consequences of failure are catastrophic.” [CNN, 2/13/07]
“I am proud of this president’s strategy in Iraq.” [Receiving Bush’s endorsement, 2/13/08]